The seasonally adjusted number of total dwelling approvals in Australia jumped 29.7% month-on-month to 19,022 units in February 2026, reaching a near five-year high and reversing a 7.2% decline in January, preliminary data showed. This marked the first increase in approvals since November, driven by a sharp rebound in approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses (up 101.2% after a 25.0% fall in January). In contrast, approvals for private sector houses were broadly flat (up 0.2% vs 1.7% previously).
By state, building approvals rose in most of the country, including New South Wales (10.1%), Victoria (85.1%), Queensland (14.7%), South Australia (12.3%), and Western Australia (3.1%), while Tasmania recorded a 27.7% decline. On an annual basis, total dwelling approvals increased 14.0%, reversing a 1.5% fall in January.
